Former Arsenal and Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez could be the latest high-profile footballer to make a move to Saudi Arabia, according to reports. Sanchez’s contract with Olympique Marseille expires at the end of June, although both sides have the option to extend it for another year. Reports suggest that the Ligue 1 side are keen to renew the forward’s stay after he scored 18 goals in 44 games over the past season. However, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Al Fateh have formally approached the 34-year-old, offering him a one year deal, with an option for a further season, worth around €10million (£8.6m).
Sanchez is the latest in a long line of big names to be linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League following Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Al-Nassr at the start of the year. This includes the likes of Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante who have reportedly been offered astronomical wages to see out their carers in the Middle East.
The Chile international first rose to prominence at Barcelona before moving to Arsenal in 2014 where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s best players. He scored 80 goals and made 45 assists in 166 games for the Gunners, winning two FA Cups in the process, but his time at the Emirates came to a bitter end when he forced his way out of the club in January 2018. Sanchez had hoped to reunite with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City but instead ended up making an ill-fated move to United where he would score just five goals in 45 games. Back in March, Sanchez revealed just how close he came to joining the Citizens, saying: ‘We talked, we talked every day, he [Guardiola] sent me messages. And everything was ready, there was a player [Raheem Sterling] who was going to go to Arsenal.’